OCC recently debuted our newly redesigned fiber termination enclosures with a fresh look and features that make them easier to work with. The updated enclosures allow for easier terminations, greater capacity, and new ways to manage cable within the enclosure.
Designed with features that benefit both the end user and the installer, OCC’s enclosures feature the following:
Fixed (RTC) and sliding (RTS) versions
1RU, 2RU, and 4RU configurations
Sliding (RTS) version can be accessed from the front or back of the enclosure
The RTS shelf can be removed entirely
Enclosures accept OCC standard 600 series adapter plates
RTC-HD and RTS-HD enclosures accept new HD adapter plates
New modular strain relief brackets reduce fiber stress and provides
Fiber hoops are stackable and allow for segregation of fiber cables
Fiber retention teeth on the hoops retain the fiber within the hoop
Slam latches on the front and rear of the enclosures
Transparent cover for inspection of ports and defined labeling field for TIA 606A compliance
Hardware for 19” or 23” rack mounting
Numerous internal locations to secure slack cable
The RTC and RTS enclosures will be on display at the 2014 BICSI Winter Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, FL in February.
As network infrastructures grow to encompass increased building automation, IP devices, and wireless access points, the need for communications components that meet these demands also grows. OCC’s Cat 6A Shielded Solution can provide 10-Gig performance and mitigate the EMI issues that come with running large amounts of cables for higher bandwidth applications. Our high performance cabling and connectivity products ensure the data within the cable will be protected from EMI, resulting in higher speeds and better data transmission.
Features & Benefits:
OCC Cat 6A shielded jacks, patch panels, UFTP cable, and shielded cable assemblies provide a tuned system that guarantees ISO and TIA Category 6A compliance
OCC’s new shielded modular jack with tool-less design is easy to terminate and provides reliable field terminations
OCC shielded Cat 6A patch panels are an all-steel construction that ensures panel rigidity and offer high density configurations
OCC UFTP Cat 6A cable offers individual shielding for all four twisted pairs ensuring EMI and RF mitigation with guaranteed 10GBASE-T performance
OCC K6AS jacks and patch panels combined with OCC Cat6A U/FTP copper cabling and Cat 6A shielded patch cords form an end-to-end Cat 6A channel backed by OCC’s 25-year MDIS system performance warranty.
This week’s blog comes from Jamey Calloway, Product Management Specialist
The growth of wireless access points and other IP-enable devices, such as surveillance cameras and building automation devices has created a need to change the way typical horizontal links and channels are configured for these applications. Devices such as wireless access points mounted in non-traditional locations (in the ceiling or high up on the wall) are not attached to the network using standard faceplate/jack and patch cord. The traditional method is being replaced with direct attachment where the horizontal cable is terminated with a field installable plug and then plugged directly into the equipment (See Figure 1).
Another market driving the direct attach method is IP surveillance and building automation systems. Total building automation and controls system is expected to be a $50 billion market by 2018. Cameras and other security devices are also connecting to the network without the standard faceplate/jack connection point. The security market is experiencing significant growth as more security devices are migrating from analog to digital (Ethernet based). These security devices are even being added to the network via the direct attach method in existing commercial space where the computer network is not growing.
Currently, installers in the field are utilizing modular plugs that are intended for patch cord construction to terminate Cat5e and Cat6 cabling. This practice is difficult, time consuming, yields unpredictable performance results and is not recommended by the TIA-568 standards. Also, these plugs do not accommodate the larger conductors utilized in Cat6A cabling. The increasing data rates of wireless access points and other devices now require a Cat6A cabling link to support 10G Ethernet. The latest IEEE 802.11ac wireless standard under development supports a theoretical data throughput of 6.9Gbps.
Clearly, the best method is to utilize Field Terminable Plugs designed specifically for field installation and to support Cat5e, 6, and 6A cabling infrastructure. These plugs feature a robust design for field installation, require no specialized tooling and the termination procedures are very similar to many tool-less modular jacks in the market. Due to growing demand and emergence of field installable plugs, industry standards such as TIA-862-A, Building Automation Systems Cabling Standard and BICSI-005D, Electronic Safety and Security (ESS) System Design now recognize the direct attach method of termination.
As the global PC market continues to decline (3.5% global market decline in 2012) and wireless-only devices, such as tablets (expected to grow 70% in 2013) and smart phones continue to grow, the demand for direct attached connectivity will also expand in order to support the wireless infrastructure for these devices. It is undeniable that the future enterprise networks will be a combination of wired and wireless connectivity. It is imperative that industry standards and practices keep pace with a changing market.
To keep pace, OCC plans to release a Field Terminable Plug this coming fall 2013. While these products are still in development, it is important to recognize the growing demand for field terminable hardware and the applications where our pending product line will fit.
An article featured on CableOrganizer.com last week takes a look at the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Ratings and explains the importance of these ratings in regards to protecting cabling equipment when in harsh or unfriendly environments.
NEMA ratings ultimately serve as a system for grading and regulating telecom and electrical enclosures and have been noted as the “go-to standards” for choosing enclosures for industry application. The article goes on to state, “NEMA-rated enclosures are all about controlling ingress and egress, a substance’s ability to either enter or exit from a given structure or space – in this case, a cabinet. While the majority of NEMA ratings are mostly or entirely focused on blocking ingress, or the entry of a material into the enclosure, there are also several that deal with preventing egress, or the escape of a substance from the interior of an enclosure.”
OCC is proud to offer NEMA 4X Enclosures designed to protect fiber optic networking components against environments where corrosive materials, caustic cleaners, and hazardous materials are used. Available in four sizes, the OCC NEMA 4X Enclosures are indoor/outdoor rated cabinets for patching and/or splicing 12 to 96 fiber ports
Some of the features of OCC’s NEMA 4X Enclosures include:
Adheres to the rigorous NEMA 4X standard for indoor or outdoor use, including extreme environments
Protects against windblown dust, rain, sleet, snow, splashing water, and hose-directed water
Constructed of strong molded fiberglass-reinforced polyester material with matching flat cover
Gasket made of closed cell neoprene cord encased in a continuous channel
Continuous stainless steel hinge
Accepts any standard OCC fiber adapter plate
Includes tie wraps and Kurl Locks for cable management and security
Pole mounting options are available with a quick assembly and release feature
To learn more about NEMA 4X Enclosures, please check out OCC’s data sheet https://www.occfiber.com/library-support/nema-4x-fiber-optic-enclosures/
